Art Mchugh Has Shot At Rider Of The Year Bicycling

After tomorrow's races at 7:30 p.m., who will be crowned "Rider of the Year" at the Lehigh County Velodrome in Trexlertown?

Could it be Switzerland's Hans Ledermann, who won a silver medal in the recent World Cycling Championships in Italy?

Could it be England's Shaun Wallace, who recently set the world record in the flying kilometer?

Or could it be New York's Nelson Vails, who teamed with Les Barczewski for a silver medal in the tandem during the World Championships?

Forget the drum roll. The honor will go to none of the above.

With the luck of the Irish, the honor will go to Art McHugh. That's right. An oil truck driver from Emmaus who never finished higher than fifth in the yearly standings, McHugh will likely take home the $500 first prize donated by the Wescosville Pizza Hut.

"Art has had a good season," said Ian Jackson, the velodrome's technical director. "He started out by winning The Morning Call Sprints at Hamilton Mall, when he upset Vails. He's been riding well all along."

Quietly, McHugh has amassed 40 points in the "Rider of the Year" competition. And going into tomorrow's season-ending Madison Cup, he's nine points behind leader Darryl Benson of Australia. The outgoing McHugh was unavailable for comment last night.

Having raced in the World Championships earlier this week, Benson will not be available to defend his lead. That means McHugh, teaming with Wallace in the Madison races, should earn enough points to become "Rider of the Year."

"What's interesting is that Shaun will return from the Worlds with a chance to move into second place and win the $300 prize," Jackson said. "Teaming together, Art needs 10 points to pass Benson. Wallace (currently in fourth behind Breinigsville's Gibby Hatton) needs 15.

"Art wants to ride in two five-lap scratches to pick up extra points before the Madison. It will be interesting to see if Shaun goes along."

Currently, Benson leads the standings with 49 points; McHugh is second with 40; Hatton is third with 36; Wallace is fourth with 35 and Australian Allan Hunter is fifth with 32. There is also a $200 prize for third place.

Benson won the title two years ago, but Bruce Donaghy took it last year.

"There will be a lot of points given out tomorrow," said Jackson, who will come out of retirement to defend his Madison Cup title with Jeff Rutter. "If Shaun had a different partner, he might even be able to overtake Art. But teamed up, that would be just about impossible."

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Another "happening" at the velodrome is a 24-hour record attempt by Andrew Michalski of Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Racing from noon today until noon tomorrow, Michalski will attempt to surpass the record of 450.231 miles set by Lon Holderman of Chicago in 1981.

Holderman went on to win the Race Across America in later years. In fact, he once held the record for the event, which was broken earlier this year.

Michalski is a virtual unknown to velodrome officials, who said he works at the Presbyterian Center in Holmes, N.Y.